Words by ITV News Multimedia producer Suzanne Elliott
After a difficult year, an easing of Covid restrictions on Christmas Day was welcomed by many.
But as Tier 4 restrictions take hold in London and the South-East, millions are forbidden to mix households at any point over Christmas, leaving many people's festive plans in tatters.
Even before Boris Johnson's announcement on Saturday, with Covid-19 infections rising across the country, and with millions living under strict Tier 3 restrictions, more and more people had chosen to U-turn on their festive plans.
The importance of social connection and relationships has been brought into sharp focus by the Covid-19 pandemic, and not being able to see loved ones this Christmas can only exacerbate feelings of disconnect and loneliness.